Oregon School for the Blind Alumni Association seeking former students, staff, volunteers, for history celebration

Jun 27, 2016

The Oregon School for the Blind Alumni Association and Salem Health will honor the former school’s history with a celebration on Aug. 6.

In preparation for the event, the alumni association is seeking people who were involved with the school over the years.

“We want to make sure people who were students, worked or volunteered at the former school know about the celebration,” says Don Mitchell, alumni association president. “We are asking for help from the public to get reconnected with students and others so we can share information about the upcoming celebration and also stay in touch with them over time.”

Anyone with alumni contact information to share, or who wants to learn further details about the event, is asked to email Don Mitchell at donmi@q.com or call him at 360-696-1985.

The alumni association is also interested in connecting with members of Lions Clubs throughout the state that supported the students and the school. The school and Lions Clubs had a long association. For example, various clubs helped students of the residential school get back home on weekends.

The August celebration will showcase the long and important history of the school, and the people involved with it. The State of Oregon closed the school in 2009 and Salem Health purchased the property in 2010. An agreement with the city of Salem led to an historic display that will be officially unveiled at the celebration event.

About the Oregon School for the Blind Alumni Association: The Alumni Association is a volunteer organization made up of former OSB students, staff, volunteers and family.

About Salem Health: Salem Health — an OHSU Partner — offers exceptional care to people in and around Oregon’s mid-Willamette Valley. It is comprised of hospitals in Salem and Dallas, a medical group of primary and specialty care providers, plus other affiliated services. For the second consecutive year, the hospital in Salem received the prestigious 2016 Truven Health 50 Top Cardiovascular Hospitals — placing it among the nation’s highest performing hospitals. “Like” us on www.facebook.com/salemhealth; follow us on Twitter: @salemhealth; and view us at www.youtube.com/salemhealth.